Bitter Sugar: A Lupe Solano Mystery - Softcover

Garcia-Aguilera, Carolina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0380807416 ISBN 13: 9780380807413

Publisher: Avon, 2002

Synopsis

The dearest friend of Lupe Solana's beloved "Papi," Ramón Suarez was the owner of a prosperous sugar mill back in Cuba until Castro forced him into exile. Now an unnamed Spanish source wants to purchase the confiscated property at a fraction of its true value. Suarez wants the sexy, smart, hot-tempered South Florida P.I. to find out why, but Ramon's lazy, no-good nephew Alexander just wants to take the money and run. Then Alexander is found brutally slain in a sleazy Miami hotel -- his last known visitor, Tío Ramón, accused of murder. Lupe's routine journey down a paper trail now turns into something darker and more twisted, entangling her in a mysterious web of spun sugar and blood that will bring bullets smashing through her window and death to her door.

About this title

About the Author:

Carolina Garcia-Aguilera is the author of the much-lauded One Hot Summer as well as the Lupe Solano mystery series. She was a private investigator for more than fifteen years before turning to writing full-time in 1996, The recipient of the Flamingo Award in 1999 and the Shamus Award in 2000, Ms. Garcia-Aguilera lives in Miami Beach.

From Publishers Weekly:

Surprises abound in Lupe Solano's sixth foray (after 2000's Havana Heat) into the seamier side of Miami's Cuban Amigra community, whose residents await Castro's defeat and an eventual return home. Some exiled sugar barons have made second fortunes, like Tio Ramon, head of the Suarez family and Lupe's father's lifelong friend. When Ramon's nephew and co-owner of the family sugar mills receives a buyout offer and then disappears, he asks her Papi for help and the dutiful daughter gears up immediately. Lupe is not always so skillful at juggling her two lives, that of a cosseted daughter, still living at home and pinning medals of the Virgin to her brassiere strap, with that of the emancipated single woman, a savvy PI with lovers and a wardrobe to die for. The author exploits this dichotomy to sometimes hilarious and sometimes tragic effect. As Detective Anderson of the Miami police points out, bodies seem to accumulate around her. Loyalty, tradition, principle and justice guide her, although she's not above taking a few shortcuts to get what she needs. She will go to extraordinary lengths for family, friends and clients, often at no small cost to herself, as is the case when she winds up in the hospital. This present challenge is a chance to gain her father's approval of her career choice, even though he may not like what she uncovers. Garcia-Aguilera saves her best surprise until last, leaving fans wanting more. (Oct. since Garcia-Aguilera is currently writing a romance novel for HarperCollins.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Avon
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0380807416
• ISBN 13: 9780380807413
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 336